The two biggest Chinese auctioneers, Beijing Poly and China Guardian, seem to think it worthwhile: they have applied to join.

ECONOMIST: Auctions are moving online

Zhang Xiao'an, vice-chairwoman of the United Nations Association of China, came to Beijing's defence this morning on China Central Television by stressing that the Chinese Foreign Ministry made a "very clear-cut response this time".

BBC: China media: Pyongyang pressure

Dr Fukuda led a team from the WHO on a one-week China visit to study H7N9, along with Chinese officials from Beijing and Shanghai.

BBC: Taiwan reports first bird flu case outside China

As I reported earlier, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has begun his trip in China, with a stop by top Chinese search engine Baidu in Beijing.

FORBES: Facebook Should Be In China, Says Baidu

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing publishes AQI values for Beijing and other cities in China, and the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection provides its own air quality data for cities throughout the country.

FORBES: Air Quality In China

Mr Cook's comments came on a visit to Beijing to meet Chinese regulators and bosses of mobile network China Unicom.

BBC: Apple expects Chinese sales 'to overtake US'

The group were arrested in Laos and brought to China in May last year, after Beijing said the attack had happened on board Chinese-flagged ships.

BBC: China parades foreign Mekong killers before execution

Yet although they remain tiny compared with Chinese giants like ICBC and China Construction Bank, there is often more than a whiff of Beijing about the Indian state lenders.

ECONOMIST: China��s banking system is not a good model for India

The move by China comes after European manufacturers alleged Chinese firms were selling panels below their market value, thanks to subsidies from Beijing.

BBC: China files EU solar subsidy complaint with WTO

Two Chinese Olympians that made it into the top 10 last year following China's successful showing at the 2008 Beijing games dropped from the top ranks this year.

FORBES